Mustard Greens is an annual or perennial grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 60 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its early spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the leaves are the prize. As a brassica (the cabbage family), give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
60
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What Mustard Greens is
Mustard Greens grows as an annual or perennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms yellow in early spring. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Mustard Greens
Mustard Greens grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. Mustard Greens does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 50 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
60 days
Indian / brown mustard; biofumigant cover crop; quick-growing. Days = typical termination point before flowering.
SARE; USDA-NRCS
GDD Required
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
50+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant mustard greens in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Mustard Greens prefers pH 5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Mustard Greens is ready about 60 days after sowing (SARE; USDA-NRCS). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — mustard greens isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Mustard Greens offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Mustard Greens thrives
On hardiness alone, mustard greens grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Mustard Greens growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Mustard Greens can grow in these states:
See if Mustard Greens will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether mustard greens actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Mustard Greens in my zone?
Mustard Greens grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Mustard Greens take to grow?
Mustard Greens is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting (SARE; USDA-NRCS). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Mustard Greens?
Most growers plant mustard greens after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 50-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Mustard Greens need?
Mustard Greens needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Mustard Greens need?
Mustard Greens prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Mustard Greens attract pollinators?
Yes — mustard greens's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Mustard Greens safe for pets?
Mustard Greens is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.